Sec 144 clamped ahead of CM’s protest outside Shinde’s office

Police on Sunday imposed Section 144 in North Block and other parts of the capital ahead of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s planned protest outside Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s office from 11 am Monday.
Rajan Bhagat, Delhi Police spokesperson, confirmed that prohibitory orders had been clamped. He, however, said Section 144 was imposed in view of the Republic Day. “Every year, Section 144 is imposed in the run-up to the Republic Day celebrations…”
An officer said there would be heavy security outside the Home Minister’s office as well as residence to prevent a repeat of last year’s incident, where protesters barged inside Shinde’s residence.
Kejriwal tweeted on Sunday, “I alongwid (sic) all ministers and MLAs, will sit on dharna outside home min office for the sake of women security. In view of republic day preps, i urge supporters and public not to come for dharna. Only MLAs will sit…”
Soon after returning from Odisha on Sunday, Shinde said, “The Lt-Governor and Delhi Police commissioner are examining the matter. If Kejriwal decides to stage a protest, they will see what has to be done.”
On Friday, Kejriwal, in a meeting with L-G Najeeb Jung and Shinde, had sought the suspension of four police officers he accused of failing to do their duty and demanding that the administration be given control of the police force.
Police Commissioner B S Bassi, who was present at the meeting, refused to suspend his men, saying that prima facie, there appeared no wrongdoing on their part.
The CM had said, if required, the security of NDMC areas and the Lutyens’ Zone could be left to the Centre but law and order of the rest of the city should be handed over to the Delhi government.